FIFA hails 5M World Cup ticket requests in 24 hours amid backlash - ESPN

FIFA said Friday that it had received 5 million ticket requests in the first 24 hours of the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, despite widespread backlash from supporter groups to the latest prices.

World soccer's governing body said the figures showed that «demand from around the world reached extraordinary levels,» as fans were able to request tickets for specific matchups for the first time following last week's draw for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Trumpeting the «excitement» of fans from over 200 countries to buy tickets for the first 48-team World Cup, FIFA signaled little sign in backing down in the face of fierce criticism when the latest prices were revealed Thursday.

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A list published by the German Football Association revealed prices ranged from $180 to $700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185, and the highest was $8,680.

The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC), which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000.

Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as «extortionate» and called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations «until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.»

«This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the